Foldable multiple purpose table with container mounted in the top



g- 3, 1954v w. A. SNYDER 2,685,490

' FOLDABLE MULTIPLE PURPOSE TABLE WITH v CONTAINER MOUNTED IN THE TOPFiled Sept. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INvz NTOR. W A 5 Nypza Aug. 3,1954 w. A. SNYDER F OLDABLE MULTIPLE PURPOSE TABLE WITH CONTAINERMOUNTED IN THE TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1952 a5 W.H. 51v

Patented Aug. 3, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE MULTIPLEPURPOSE TABLE WITH CONTAINER MOUNTED IN THE TOP 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a foldable table capable of being put to agreat variety of uses, among which are: as an automobile accessory to becarried about from place to place by automobilists on vacation and othertours, so as to be unfolded from a compact condition stored in the car,to an upstanding, operative position for use as a multiple purposetable; to be used to house in a concealed position a mirror carryingcasing which contains toilet accessories to be used along with themirror when the latter is adjusted to an upstanding position in relationto the top of the table; and to be used either as a moderately sizedtable for a small family or as a large, elongated table capable ofaccommodating a considerable number of persons, either as a diningtable, card players table, or for various other uses.

Another object is to provide for a table top member, an improvedsupporting structure that can be adjusted so as to form out of thesuperstructure either a horizontal supporting surface or a surface at asuitable inclination for a writing desk top or for a draftsmans use.

Another object is to provide a foldable table furnished with a superiorleg bracing means which will safely maintain the table in an upstanding,operative position even when young children at play around it come intocontact with its leg structure. In this connection it is a specificobject to provide the table with an improved leg bracing means equippedwith a latching device which can be hooked onto a jointed leg bracingstructure adjacent to the point of fiexion therein in such a manner aseffectively to safeguard against the leg bracing structure being movedaway from its extended, leg bracing position by any unauthorized,accidental force applied thereto.

The table provided by this invention, being of a firm, stable character,is also well adapted for being used as an ironing board.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafterappear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferredembodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical midsection of my foldable, multiplepurpose table, showing the same in its unfolded, operative position.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view looking up at the extended table structureof Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective illustrating one of theleg bracing arrangements of the middle section of the table.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail, on a still larger scale thanFig. 3, illustrating the leg brace latching means of the latter view.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating the four table top sections asthey appear after the first stage of the table top folding operation hasbeen completed. In this view the leg structure for the two leaves of thecentral table top section is omitted.

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating in a somewhat diagrammatic fashion thefour completely folded table top sections.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view illustrating one ofthe leg brace locking devices.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the structure shown in Fig. '7,looking in the direction indicated by the arrow on the latter view.

Fig. 9 is a partly elevational and partly sectional view of a combinedmirror and toilet accessory carried by the table.

Hg. 10 is a vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 9, lookingfrom right to left from the line l@-lt on the latter view.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, bottom plan view of an end portion of afoldable table provided with a modified leg bracing means.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section on line l2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the toilet accessory, per se.

Figs. 14 and 15 are, respectively, face and edge views of the two-partlatching strip for the limbs of the U-shaped member of Fig. 11.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Figs. 1 and 2 the invention isshown embodied in a table structure having twin midlength table topsections 55 and it, and twin outer table top sec tions ll and I8. Alongthe under side of its inner edge portion each of the table top sectionsl5 and it carries a transverse border strip 29, these strips affording agood anchorage for the two hinges 25 which render these tabletopsections downswingable toward each other.

A pair of twin foldable legs 22 is provided for each of the aforesaidcentral table top sections l5 and E6, the outswing of these pairs oflegs from each other being limited by two pairs of dual linkage 23, thislinkage being located at each side of the table and the outer end ofeach dual link structure being pivoted to a table leg, while these linksare pivoted to each other at 26, as indicated in Fig. l. A duplicate legbracing means is provided beyond each end of this linkage for each ofthe two central table top sec- 3 tions. These duplicate bracingstructures will next be described, each being given the same referencecharacters as the other.

A transverse anchor block or strip 21 is secured to the under side ofthe outer end portion of each central table top member (IE or IE), andto the under side of each end portion of said strip 2'! is secured ametal mounting strip 28 (see Fig. 3), the outer end portion of which isupwardly directed to form an apertured ear 29 to which is pivoted theupper end of a strap metal arm 39. Each of said arms 39 has its lowerend portion 3! deflected in an edgewise, obtusely angular manner.

The aforesaid legs 22 of each pair are united by a strap metal U-shapedmember 3d having a basal run 35 the arms 3c of which are swingablyconnected at 3'! with the inner sides of the legs which said member 34unites. Near its extremity the deflected part 3! of each arm 89 isinternally pivoted at am to the U-member 34 near its basal run orcrosspiece 35, so that said crosspiece co-operates with the inner sideof the angular part of each arm 38 to form a stop means that preventsthe bracing structure between each pair of legs 22 and the overlyingtable top member from flexing outwardly beyond the operative position(slightly beyond dead center), shown in Figs. 1 and 4, so that thecentral table top members i and l B are maintained in their horizontal,5

operative positions.

In order to prevent the aforesaid leg bracing structures from beingaccidentally forced to swing back across dead center, each arm haspivoted to it a latching hook 39. These latching hooks are so positionedas to be hooked over the upper edges of the crosspieces of the U-shapedmembers 34. The leg bracing structure is completed, so far as the twocentral sections of the table are concerned, by providing each pair oflegs 22 with a pair of crossed braces ll As viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 theleft hand table top member it 'is hinged by hinges 39 to the adjacenttable top member l5, and is provided with a foldable supporting meanswhich comprises a pair of legs 59 united by a crosspiece 5i. With themidlength part of this crosspiece co-operates a swingable leg brace 52,the upper end of this brace being hinged to a crosspiece 53 secured tothe under side of the outer end portion of the table top section l'l. Asbest shown in Figs. '7 and S, the lower end portion of said brace 52 hassecured to it a metal strip 55 having a hooked end portion 55 to hookover the upper edge of the crosspiece 5i, and an auxiliary hook 5i isattached to the brace 52 to hook into an eye 58 carried by thecrosspiece 5!. This hook 5'! latches the leg bracing parts againstaccidental displacement. Said brace 52 is in two parts swingably andextensibly fastened together by a nut carrying bolt 59. A slot 6%,fragmentarily shown in Fig. '7, is formed in one part of said brace andslidably contains said bolt. By means of this two-part brace the tabletop member I! may be adjusted at somewhat of an inclination, betteradapting it for use as a writing desk. If preferred, said slot may bemade long enough to contain two spaced apart nut carrying bolts carriedby the unslotted part of the brace, and adjustment may then be elfectedonly by lengthening and shortening said brace.

At the right hand end of the table structure as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2the table top member 18 is hinged to the table top member It by hinges66 and is provided with a different leg bracing structure from thatwhich has been described for the table top member H. In this latter legstructure the paired, swingably mounted legs 6| are furnished with acrosspiece 62. Also each of these legs has pivoted to it at 64a anoutwardly deflected end portion 64b of a brace rod 64 which is shaped asa rectangular U the middle run 65 of which, during the swinging of thelegs 6|, travels along a guideway provided for it between a rail 66 andthe superjacent table top member i3. At the outer limit of its travelthe rod run 65 will abut a border strip 65a, thus being arrested in oneof its leg bracing positions. Each leg 61 is pivoted to the lower partof a table top carried block 59, the legs and U-shaped member thus beingso related to each other that said member does not interfere withfolding up said legs. Said guide rail 66 is bent so as to form in itsseats 65a, and by means of a spring loaded bolt 56b, depending from thecrosspiece 65a, and winged nut l0 carried by said bolt, said rail can beforced up to form a firm, locking relation between the crossarm of theU-shaped member and the selected seat 66a.

In Figs. 11 and 12 is shown another type of table comprising only twotable top members 14 and 75, the latter having through it an openingwith which cooperates a swingable closure member l5 carrying toiletaccessories. Each of these table top members is provided with the samearrangement of swingable paired legs H and accompanying brace means.Where said table top sections meet each has secured to its under side aborder strip '18 and hinges i9 swingably fasten these strips together.The inner end portion of each leg H has a groove 89 extending along themidwidth of its inner side, and with these grooves co-operate theoutwardly deflected end portions 8! of a rectangularly U-shaped bracerod 82, the midlength run of this rod being turnabl carried by a hingemember 83 directed horizontally and anchored under a table top borderstrip 84.

A two-part spacing strip 85 is shown, the outer ends or which arepivotally connected to the outer portions of the arms of the U-shapedmember 82. The two parts of this strip are pivotally connected to eachother at 35, and in a spaced relation to this pivot both parts arebulged in the same direction as indicated at 81, thus providing a swellin one part which is seatable in an indentation in the other part toreleasably latch the two parts in alinement with each other to springthe arms of the U-shaped member out so that their end portionspositively engage the aforesaid grooves til.

The aforesaid toilet swingable closure 16 is rectangular, somewhatelongated box, except that its attached end portion is provided with arounded heel portion 90, this rounded part having in it at each side ofthe box a socket 9|. The two sockets thus provided receive end portionsof pivot pins 92. Small recesses 92a are made in the table top to clearthe way for putting said pins in place through bores in a subjacent,parallel relation to the surface of the table top. Said recesses maylater be filled with putty, or the like. Said recesses 9211. are anessential aid to mounting the swingable member 76. By their use theworkman avoids applying any objectionable projections to the uppersurface of the table top.

The table top member i5 is provided with a rectangular opening 93 withinwhich said member '16 is swingably fitted to swing to and from theoperative position thereof shown in Fig. 9 in full lines. When themember 16 is in its horizontal, inoperative position Within said opening93 said heel 90 is sufiiciently spaced away from the fulcrum afforded bythe pins 92 to enable the user, by depressing said heel, to tilt up theopposite end of the case sufficiently to place a thumb 0r finger underit, thus to swing the ease up either to the broken line or full lineposition thereof shown in Fig. 9.

Said member 16 has swingably attached to its normally upper side portiona prop 95, the attached end portion of said prop carrying a pair oflaterally directed ears 95 which are pivotally attached to said memberwithin recesses 91 in the sides of this member. Also the case isprovided with a broad groove 99 to receive the body portion of said proptogether with the deflected tip 95a thereof, so that the entire prop isnormally countersunk into the member 16.

Into that side portion of the member 15 which is opposite to said groove95 is inset a cutlery box 98 having a cover 99 with thumb notches I90 toslide it to open position either toward the right or the left. Saidcover is slidable in a plane parallel to the axis about which theswingable member 15 swings and therefore the operation of said coverdoes not disturb the position of said swingable member. Said box 98 maycontain various toilet articles, including the articles required forshaving and manicuring.

Between said cutlery box 99 and the free end of the member 16 isattached a mirror 102 which is shown overlying about half the surface ofthat face of the case to which it is attached. Said mirror does notextend quite to the free end of I claim:

In a foldable multiple purpose table, a table top member having acut-out therein, a swingable member normally occupying said cut-out andhaving a fiat face which is normally flush with the upper surface ofsaid table top member, the cut-out in said table top member being asubstantially rectangular opening therethrough and said swingable memberbeing loosely fitted to said opening, hinge means connecting one end ofsaid swingable member with said table top member near one side of saidopening, means operating between said table top member and saidswingable member to maintain the latter at times in an upswung inclinedposition, a mirror attached to said swingable member and overlying aportion of the upper face of the latter when upswung as aforesaid, saidmirror being then considerably spaced upwardly from said hinge means, acutlery box countersunk into the upper face of said swingable memberbetween said hinge means and mirror, and a cover for said cutlery box,said cover being slidable from open to closed position and vice versaalong a path which is parallel to the axis about which said swingablemember swings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 362,611 Davis May 10, 1887 1,588,351 Grossnickle June 18, 19261,625,011 Wolfe et a1 Apr. 19, 1927 1,765,514 Wetmore June 24, 19301,862,911 Snyder June 14, 1932 1,888,009 Moss Nov. 15, 1932 2,321,328Stack June 8, 1943 2,456,415 Hillenbrand Dec. 14, 1948 2,628,147 BernerFeb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 174,594 SwitzerlandApr. 1, 1935

